Department for Transport

Midland Main Railway Line: Electrification

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and considering the decreasing costs of electrification, whether they will reconsider their decision to not electrify the Midland Main Line to Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield before they confirm any orders for hybrid trains.

baroness vere of norbiton: There are currently no plans to further extend electrification on the Midland Main Line (MML), beyond those works planned by the MML enhancements programme and HS2 Phase 2b. The Government is committed to a greener, cleaner transport system, and recognises the important role this will play in reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That’s why we are modernising the UK rail fleet to introduce more electric, bi-mode (electric and diesel hybrid) and alternative-fuel trains to the network. The new bi-mode intercity trains for the Midland Main Line will have less environmental impact than the current trains, some of which are over 30 years old. Our ambition is that these will be the cleanest ever bi-mode trains. Abellio, who have recently been awarded the new East Midlands Railway franchise will be at the forefront of delivering a cleaner, greener rail network. They are seeking innovative ways to keep emissions to a minimum when running under diesel power, and will trial hydrogen fuel cell trains on the Midland Main Line and run zero-carbon pilots at six stations along the route.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Regulation

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce regulations that require manufacturers to have a signalling beacon on all (1) drones, and (2) other flying toys.

baroness vere of norbiton: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have published new product standards for drones which will become fully applicable by 2022. Some of these standards include the mandatory requirement for drones to be fitted with a geo-awareness software before being placed on the market. This software will notify the pilot when the drone is entering a restricted zone and when it’s coming close to other aircraft. This new requirement will ensure that our airspace is safely shared and managed more effectively to maintain the UK’s strong air safety record.

Railways: North of England

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for prioritising HS3 over HS2.

baroness vere of norbiton: HS2 paves the way for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and the full benefits of both can best be realised by integration. There is no either / or choice between HS2 and NPR. Both projects have the potential to be transformative for the North. Whilst Transport for the North’s plans for NPR are at an earlier stage of development, they are being designed to complement HS2 and transform connectivity across the north of England. We are currently consulting on proposals to include passive provision for two future junctions that would one day allow NPR trains to use the HS2 route into Manchester and vice versa. These proposals have been developed with Transport for the North, and, in the future, could allow a potential new route between Manchester and Liverpool that could also be used for services between London and Liverpool.

Esk Valley Railway Line

lord faulkner of worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Northern Rail about the provision of additional services on the Esk Valley railway from Middlesbrough to Whitby, following the extra funding secured for these services by the Community Rail Partnership.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government understands the importance of this line and welcomes the funding secured to improve its services. These plans are linked to a wider development vision for Whitby. Transport for the North is supporting North Yorkshire County Council on the delivery of this important Esk Valley project and will be leading aspects of the project going forwards. In delivering extra services, the priority is to find a solution that is affordable and acceptable to all stakeholders with the aim of helping deliver improved transport opportunities to support the economy of North Yorkshire. Northern is currently working with Network Rail to look at the feasibility of running an earlier service from Whitby to Middlesbrough from December 2019.

Driving: Licensing

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government, for the last year that complete records are held, what was the average number of days that people had to wait to have their driving licence reinstated after being certified medically fit to drive again; and what mechanisms are in place to allow people to inquire about the status of their application while it is being processed.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency has a target number of days for the processing of applications for driving licences to be reinstated between someone having been certified as medically fit to drive again and the licence being returned.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is responsible for considering the medical evidence and then deciding whether the medical standards for driving can be met. There is no target number of days for reinstating a licence once the decision to issue the licence has been made. however, a licence would be sent immediately. The DVLA sends confirmation to the applicant that a questionnaire has been sent to their doctor for completion. Applicants may also contact the DVLA in writing, by email or by telephone to make enquiries on the progress of their case.

Driving: Licensing

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what training is given to staff of the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency on communicating with people who have had to surrender their driving licence on medical grounds.

baroness vere of norbiton: Staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) are trained to deal with customers professionally. Communication is tailored to the needs of the individual and all staff are expected to deal with customers with courtesy and sensitivity.

Passenger Ships: Cultural Heritage

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the basis for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposed changes to the safety rules for historic passenger vessels; and what assessment they have made of whether all the proposed changes are necessary to ensure an acceptable level of maritime safety.

baroness vere of norbiton: The technical standards applicable to the current domestic passenger fleet vary depending on the age of the vessel with new build ships being subject to updated standards. These newer standards are considered to provide a higher safety standard than that required for older ships. Concurrent with these developments, the standards for existing vessels have remained mostly unchanged.The aim of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA’s) proposed changes to standards for older passenger ships is to bring their level of safety as far as possible up to that required for new build ships in order to lessen the safety gap in key areas and thus achieve an acceptable level of safety for the travelling public in the 21st century.The proposed changes have been formed out of a review of standards. This review took place against a background of Lord Justice Clarke’s Thames Safety Inquiry into the accident involving the passenger ship MARCHIONESS and the dredger BOWBELLE on the tidal Thames, a Formal Safety Assessment carried out for the UK government into domestic passenger ship safety, and the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) recommendations.The proposed changes were the subject of a public consultation which ran from 6 November 2018 to 29 January 2019. Following feedback received in the consultation the MCA have reviewed the proposed changes and in some areas the changes have been modified to maintain proportionality whilst still achieving an acceptable level of safety for the travelling public. These modified proposals are the subject of a second public consultation which was launched on 29 May 2019 and runs until the 10 July.

MV Princess Freda

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many passengers have lost their lives while travelling on the Princess Freda since she began operating as a passenger vessel on the Thames; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which the seaworthiness of that vessel is demonstrated by the number of soldiers she rescued during the Dunkirk evacuation.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) report that to their knowledge no instances of loss of life on the Princess Freda have been reported to them during her operation as a Thames passenger vessel. As with all UK passenger ships, Princess Freda is subject to annual survey by the MCA to maintain passenger ship certification in accordance with the appropriate standards. Her operational record during the Dunkirk evacuation would not have formed part of her initial assessment as a passenger ship nor any subsequent annual verifications.

Passenger Ships: Cultural Heritage

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the costs of complying with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposed changes to the safety rules for historic passenger vessels will have on the financial viability of operators of such vessels.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are preparing a full Impact Assessment (IA) to determine the anticipated costs and impacts of compliance with the proposed changes to the standards for older passenger vessels.An earlier version of the IA was consulted on during a public consultation which ran from 6 November 2018 to 29 January 2019. Consultees were invited to comment on the validity of the analysis in the IA and encouraged to provide information that would help to strengthen this. The IA is now being updated to reflect the range of further information provided through consultee feedback.The IA process is ongoing and policy officials in the MCA are happy to discuss impacts with any interested parties and take onboard relevant evidence for the assessment.

Passenger Ships: Cultural Heritage

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the concerns of owners and operators that they will be required to substantially rebuild historic passenger vessels in order to comply with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposed changes to safety rules.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) conducted an initial public consultation on the proposed changes to standards for older vessels from 6 November 2018 to 29 January 2019, this consultation included a consultation stage impact assessment (IA). Consultees were invited to comment on the proposals and also the validity of the analysis in the IA and encouraged to provide information that would help to strengthen this. The IA is now being updated to reflect this feedback, in particular areas where operators have indicated that substantial alterations would be required. As well as reflecting concerns in the IA the MCA have also revised some of the proposed changes to standards in response to feedback from the first consultation, including concerns raised with respect to substantial structural alterations being required. These revised proposals are the subject of a second public consultation which was launched on 29 May 2019 and runs until the 10 July. Owners, operators and other stakeholders are invited to comment, including raising any ongoing concerns.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Climate Change

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 17 April (HL15077), why they do not have any plans to increase global cooperation and governance of research on, and the use of, solar radiation management technologies; and what assessment, if any, they havemade of the risk of that lack of plans leading to unilateral deployment without international consent

lord henley: The priority of the UK Government is to tackle the root cause of climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities and adapting to those impacts that are unavoidable. We are aware of independent existing efforts to increase cooperation and governance of research into solar radiation management technologies, such as the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative and the ‘Oxford Principles’ for the governance of geoengineering. We have not formally assessed the risk that lack of plans may lead to unilateral deployment without international consent.

Electric Vehicles: Batteries

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 20 May (HL15733), what activity theyare undertaking to explore second life applications for electric vehicle batteries which are no longer able to perform as required; what proportion of electric vehicle batteries would be diverted to secondary use; and what discussions they have had with industry and researchers on that topic.

lord henley: The Government has directly supported energy storage through research and innovation funding. This support includes current funding from BEIS for an energy storage cost reduction project, led by Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, which is looking at reducing the cost of stationary energy storage by developing cost effective, large-scale processes for grading and sorting 2nd life Electric Vehicle batteries. This project is due to be completed by end March 2021. There are several projects being funded as part of the Collaborative Research & Development (CR&D) activity of the Faraday Battery Challenge working on the development of the technical aspects of remanufacture and understanding the economic viability of using electric vehicle batteries for second life applications. These range in focus from diagnostic techniques to establish the suitability of batteries for a second life application and inform warranties for the second life devices, to developing effective methods of remanufacture which includes optimising the initial battery design for remanufacture. Second life applications are also a topic of research in the Faraday Institution (FI) supported Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries (ReLIB) project, with a cohort group established from the participants of the Collaborative Research & Development (CR&D) and FI recycling and second life projects to share learning in this area. The business cases for the types of electric vehicle batteries which are suitable both physically and from an economic perspective for second life applications are under development across the industry. These applications are dependent, among other factors, on the rapidly changing cost of new batteries and the value and efficiency of recovering the materials compared to the cost of remanufacture. Discussions are active with industry and researchers on this topic, both as part of the recycling and reuse cohort as well as conversations with companies and organisations across the UK, covering topics such as data handling and sharing to enable assessment of battery health at the end of EV life. The UK is also actively engaged in the World Economic Forum Global Battery Alliance and European Battery Alliance working groups in recycling and reuse. These innovation projects exploring second life battery use will help to provide information on the proportion of electric vehicle batteries which could be cost-effectively diverted to secondary use.

Natural Gas: Storage

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Henley on 20 February (HL13575), what percentage of the maximum theoretical gas storage is utilised on averagefor the last full year for which data are available.

lord henley: In 2018, the last full year for which data are available, UK gas storage had on average 62% utilisation, measured as an average of how full storage facilities were on a daily basis.

Energy: Disconnections

lord stevenson of balmacara: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent estimate they have made of the number of households who disconnect their energy supply due to the cost; and what assessment they have made of this figure.

lord henley: The Government does not hold the data requested.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Conflict Resolution

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to review and strengthen the effectiveness of conflict resolution policies of the UK to address persistent and accelerating conflict, and flashpoints, particularly in (1) Benin, (2) Burkina Faso, (3) Cameroon, (4) Central African Republic, (5) Chad, (6) Democratic Republic of the Congo, (7) Mali, (8) Nigeria, (9) Togo, (10) Somalia, and (11) Sudan;and what steps they are taking with partners in the Commonwealth, the EU, and the UN to review equivalent policies.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As outlined in our answer to HL16250, the British Government is taking a number of actions to prevent conflict. In Sub-Saharan Africa, we are:Using funding from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) which has led, for example, to the roll out of new peacekeeping-intelligence architecture in the three missions with the highest number of casualties - Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic. Our sizeable funding contribution to the UN is used as leverage to advocate for UN reform and improve the way it operates.Promoting peace and security in Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali through diplomacy and targeted support. We support UN and French security efforts through direct contributions to MINUSMA in Northern Mali and the deployment of three RAF Chinook helicopters to France’s Counter-Terrorism Operation Barkhane. We work closely with the G5 and other partners to provide life-saving assistance and protection to people on the frontline of conflict. The UK is also focusing on developing programmes to tackle the long-term drivers of instability and poverty.Urging all parties in Benin to engage in dialogue to overcome their differences and find a peaceful solution. We share the concerns of the EU, France, the US and the UN about acts of violence in Benin following the 28 April legislative elections.Regularly addressing the situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon with international partners including the UN, EU, Commonwealth and African Union to encourage and support efforts to resolve the crisis. The UK remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in the Anglophone regions and the impact it is having on the lives of ordinary civilians. We have shared experiences with the Government of Cameroon (GoC) on conflict resolution; and remain ready to provide further support. We raised our concerns during briefings at the UN Security Council on 4 and 12 June, and led on a statement with Austria at the UN Human Rights Council in March, which was supported by 39 countries, calling on the GoC to establish a credible political dialogue to address root causes of the conflict.Providing the Central African Republic (CAR) with significant humanitarian spend (£63m since 2013) and core contributions to key multilateral organisations on the ground, such as the World Bank and the EU. Support to UN peacekeeping efforts include assessed contributions (£40.5m per annum to MINUSCA peacekeeping mission and €2m to the EU Training Mission).Pressing our long-term approach to stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including through significant contributions to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). We are supporting security reforms, stabilisation and peace building initiatives through DFID programmes and the CSSF.Providing training to Nigeria’s armed forces combat insurgent groups, support communities to better respond and manage the effects of violent conflict, and to support the reintegration of former members of Boko Haram. We are also working closely with the EU, US and UN to provide technical support to the Nigerian Government to address the underlying causes of intercommunal violence affecting many parts of Nigeria, including the recently announced National Livestock Transformation Plan, which aims to mitigate escalating violence between pastoralists and farmers. We are currently reviewing how we might further assist the Nigerian Government in their efforts to tackle conflict in the northeast of the country.Building on the work of the UK-hosted London Conference on Somalia in 2017, which brought together Somalia’s key partners, including the UN, EU and a number of members of the Commonwealth. This established a set of agreements that provide the foundation for a more coherent international approach to Somalia with conflict resolution at its core. We are careful to ensure that all UK policies and programmes in Somalia maintain a focus on conflict sensitivity, and regularly undertake conflict analysis to support this. In particular, our work includes activity under the CSSF to address the drivers of conflict and build capacity at both local and regional levels.Supporting community-based peacebuilding programmes, in concert with the UN and other international partners, namely the African Union, in areas of instability and conflict in Sudan. The UK has a long standing role in supporting sustainable peace in Sudan. As a member of the Troika and bilaterally, we have supported progress in the Peace Process seeking to find a solution to the conflicts in Darfur and the Two Areas. In addition the UK plays a leading role in the UN Security Council, particularly as the penholder on the mandate for UNAMID – the African Union hybrid Mission in Darfur.The Minister for Africa met with Togolese President Gnassingbé and reiterated the importance of delivering 2020 Presidential elections on time and a return to inclusive politics. The UK continues to encourage all parties to avoid violence and respect the human rights of all Togolese people. The UK supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) brokered roadmap, along with the EU, which has seen Togo recently adopt two-term limits on presidential terms, in line with other ECOWAS states. The change however does not apply retrospectively and has been rejected by the opposition.

Conflict Resolution

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to review and strengthen the effectiveness of conflict resolution policies of the UK to address persistent and accelerating conflict, and flashpoints, particularly in (1) Afghanistan, (2) Egypt, (3) Iran, (4) Iraq, (5) Libya, and (7) Syria;and what steps they are taking with partners in the Commonwealth, the EU, and the UN to review equivalent policies.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government’s actions to prevent conflict in Afghanistan and in the Middle East and North Africa include:Afghanistan: Continuing our close engagement with the Afghan government and our international partners to help bring about an inclusive and sustainable Afghan-led peace process as quickly as possible. We strongly support current US efforts to drive forward peace. The UK welcomed the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council in April that set out a clear path for how the EU will support peace in Afghanistan. We also support the important contribution made by the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). Prospects for peace are probably better now than at any time since 2001. However, after decades of war and the lack of trust on all sides, achieving a credible and sustainable peace process is challenging.Egypt: The UK plans to spend more than £50m from 2016 to 2020 to support Egypt’s continued stability, by providing economic opportunities for and protecting ordinary Egyptians, tackling radicalisation and safeguarding tourists and British nationals. The Home Office and Egyptian Ministry of Interior are committed to increasing cooperation across a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration and organised crime.Iran: We are working with regional and international partners to call for restraint in order to de-escalate the situation. Yet we remain determined to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, and are working with E3 partners to achieve this. This deal remains in our shared interests as long as Iran meets its commitments under the deal in full. It is a key achievement of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, which is in our shared security interests. We are deeply concerned at the heightened level of regional tension. Our priority remains de-escalation.Iraq: Providing support, together with the Coalition and international partners, to the Iraqi security sector in countering the ongoing threat from Daesh, and addressing the root causes of this threat. This involves addressing the underlying political, social and economic drivers which led to Daesh’s rise. We continue to support, alongside UN partners, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) whose mandate renewal was unanimously approved on 21 May 2019. The UK held the pen on UNSCR 2379 which was unanimously adopted by the UNSC in 2017 and established the UN Investigative Team for the Accountability of Daesh (UNITAD). UNITAD will seek to ensure documentation and accountability for Daesh crimes and work with the Government of Iraq to support reconciliation efforts.Libya: We are engaging in intensive diplomacy, involving the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ghassan Salamé, and partners in the UN and EU. The UK is clear that all parties must commit to a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access, and return to UN-mediated political talks. The EU28 issued a statement on 12 April 2019 condemning the violence, and urging all parties to resume political dialogue.Syria: Our diplomatic and programme efforts remain focused on bringing the conflict to an end through a UN-led negotiated political settlement. The UN-led Geneva process between the Syrian parties remains the forum to achieve this. We are also engaged in completing the enduring defeat of Daesh. As events unfold, we are keeping our approach under constant review.

Conflict Resolution

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to review and strengthen the effectiveness of conflict resolution policies of the UK to address persistent and accelerating conflict, and flashpoints, particularly in (1) Myanmar, (2) Sri Lanka, and (3) Southern Philippines; and what steps they are taking with partners in the Commonwealth, the EU, and the UN to review equivalent policies.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government’s actions in respect of addressing conflict and unrest in the regions listed include:Maintaining our provision of practical support to the Myanmar Peace Process, delivered through the multi-donor Joint Peace Fund (JPF), as well as technical advice and expertise. The UK is an active member of the JPF Governance Board which includes 11 other donors including the EU, Australia and Canada. We have played a pivotal role in maintaining high level UN attention to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.Playing a leading role, together with Core Group members Canada, Germany, Macedonia and Montenegro, in achieving a new Resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March. This continues Sri Lanka’s reconciliation and accountability commitments following the end of the civil war. We firmly believe that this is the best framework for establishing truth and achieving justice and lasting reconciliation. We will continue to refine our approach towards addressing conflict in Sri Lanka, working closely with local stakeholders and international partners including those in the Commonwealth, EU and UN.We are spending £8.3m of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funding on interfaith dialogue, reconciliation, police reform and training, and demining in Sri Lanka. The CSSF is a cross government fund, which supports and delivers activity to tackle instability and to prevent conflicts which threaten UK interests. We regularly review and adapt our CSSF programmes to ensure they effectively contribute to post-conflict reconciliation.As a founding member of the International Contact Group, a hybrid mediation support initiative supporting the peace process in Southern Philippines, the UK took active interest in the January 2019 plebiscite, which paves the way for an autonomous region for Muslim Mindanao. UK development assistance to the reconstruction in Mindanao is through multilateral partners such as the World Bank and Asia Development Bank.

Venezuela: Politics and Government

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the Organization of American States and others about the situation in Venezuela and its consequences for neighbouring states; and what assessment they have made of possible prospects for resolution in that area.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have maintained regular discussions with key actors on Venezuela following UK recognition of Juan Guaido as interim Venezuelan President on 4 February 2019. The Minister for Europe and the Americas attended the Lima Group meeting of Foreign Ministers in Ottawa in February. In March, he spoke with the Chilean Foreign Minister, Ampuero, and met the Cuban Vice President, Cabrisas and Deputy Foreign Minister, Medina in Havana. We discussed the issue with Colombian President, Duque during his UK visit. We are a member of the EU-led International Contact Group which is leading international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis alongside the Lima Group, and support Norwegian-facilitated talks between the regime and opposition in Oslo. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Director for the Americas will attend the OAS Summit in Medellin on 26-28 June.

Rockall: Sovereignty

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the government of the Republic of Ireland about the ownership of Rockall and its 12-mile territorial sea.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​There have been no representations from the Irish Government about the ownership of Rockall. Both the Irish Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have said that Ireland has no claim to Rockall and does not recognise any other sovereign claim to it.

Syria: Chemical Weapons

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 June (HL15867), what plans they have to reassess their initial assessment of who was responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Duoma when the further investigations by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team are completed.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 4 June 2019 (PQ HL15867) given by the Minister of State for Defence. Our assessment remains as stated in my Noble Friend's answer.

Jamal Khashoggi

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent reports that the government of the USA has called on Saudi Arabia to show tangible progress in their investigation into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, what new information they have on the investigation; and when they last received a progress report.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK attends the trial on the death of Jamal Khashoggi as part of a group of international observers. We attend all trials of international concern where host governments permit us to do so. It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the ongoing legal process.

Gaza: Fisheries

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about that country's control over the use of the coastal waters off Gaza by fishermen living there.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We regularly raise with the Government of Israel the urgent need to ease all access and movement restrictions on Gaza, including fishing limits.

West Bank: Demolition

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the demolition by the government of Israel of Palestinian facilities, including commercial shops, in the Qalandia refugee camp.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Whilst we have not made any assessment on this issue, we are gravely concerned by continued demolition of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities.

West Bank: Demolition

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they plan to make to the government of Israel about reports of the destruction of 530 Palestinian-owned olive trees and four water wells by the Israel Defense Forces east of Tammun town while legal efforts are ongoing to prevent the area being turned into a nature reserve.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​While we have not made any representations on this specific incident, we are gravely concerned by continued demolition of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities. We are aware of the difficulties facing Palestinian olive growers. We have expressed our serious concerns to the Israeli Government and security officials about the destruction of olive trees on a number of occasions.

Palestinians: Electric Cables

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about reports that that country has prohibited the setting up of high-voltage power lines in the Berin area to supply Palestinian residents with electricity.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​While we have not made any representations on this specific matter, we recognise the need for improvements in infrastructure, employment, energy and water supply to improve living conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Department of Health and Social Care

Food Standards Agency: Public Appointments

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to approve the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Food Standards Agency; and what has been the cause of the delay.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The appointment is subject to the approval process which governs the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. An announcement will be made once that process has concluded.

International Life Sciences Institute

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of the study on the International Life Sciences Institute "Are industry-funded charities promoting “advocacy-led studies” or “evidence-based science”?,whether they classify the International Life Sciences Instituteas an industry lobby group or a scientific health charity.

baroness barran: The Department funds research via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR does not itself classify any organisation in terms of charitable status or lobby group. The NIHR regards a charity as a specific type of voluntary organisation which must conform to the regulations set out in charity law particularly the Charities Act 2011. Charity is a legal status for an organisation, not a legal form or organisational structure.Any organisation which considers that it can carry out high-quality clinical, applied health or social care research is likely to be eligible for Departmental, NIHR-funded research programmes, either directly or with a partner. There are specific guidance documents setting out eligibility criteria for the NIHR’s programmes which include information on partnership working, funding mechanism and contractual obligations including reporting and disclosure of conflicts of interest.

Obesity: Children

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups have access to clear, comprehensive and coherent child obesity treatment services which extend from simple local community interventions through to more specialist treatments.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Government will provide the National Health Service with an extra £33.9 billion a year by 2023/24 to help support the NHS Long Term Plan and ensure clinical commissioning groups can commission child obesity treatment services across the country.The Long Term Plan sets out a number of actions to reduce obesity including investment in tier 3 weight management services for children and adults and plans are in development for its expansion. This will result in, for example, a further 1,000 children a year being treated by 2022/23 for severe complications related to obesity.The Long Term Plan also commits to work with the professional bodies and universities to ensure nutrition has a greater place in professional education training, making sure staff on the frontline who are in contact with thousands of patients a year feel equipped to talk to them about nutrition and achieving a healthy weight in an informed and sensitive way.

Department for Education

Education: Refugees

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Refugee Action Turning Words into Action: why the Government must invest now to let refugees learn, published in June.

lord agnew of oulton: The government recognises that learning English is essential in enabling refugees to rebuild their lives. We are working across government to develop a new strategy for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) in 2019. The strategy will provide a shared vision for all publicly funded English language provision and it will include addressing the needs of refugees. We will explore what needs to be done to enable good local solutions and to support greater access to English language provision. We will consider the ‘Turning Words into Action’ report, attached, as we develop the strategy.The department funds ESOL through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), which is allocated to providers on an annual basis. Colleges and adult learning providers have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their AEB allocation to meet the needs of their communities. This includes planning, with local partners, the ESOL courses that they will deliver locally. The Home Office and the Department for Education have provided £10 million to enable refugees resettled through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme to access additional classes.From the start of the 2019/20 academic year approximately 50% of the AEB will be devolved to 6 Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and to the Mayor of London through the Greater London Authority (GLA). The MCAs and GLA will be responsible for commissioning and funding AEB provision, including ESOL, for learners resident in their areas.We know that there are many examples of good practice to overcome barriers for learners with childcare needs. Through the ESOL strategy, we will explore what else needs to be done to enable good local solutions and to support greater access to English language provision.



HL16314_report
(PDF Document, 821.72 KB)

Students: Disability

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that higher education institutions are fulfilling their obligation to support students who would previously have been supported by Bands 1 and 2 of the Disabled Students' Allowance.

viscount younger of leckie: Higher Education Providers (HEPs) are responsible for providing reasonable adjustments for disabled students under the Equality Act 2010, and since September 2016 expected to deliver, as reasonable adjustments, less specialist non-medical help (NMH) previously funded through Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) NMH Bands 1 and 2.The government expects all HEPs to meet their Equality Act responsibilities and to be making reasonable adjustments for all disabled students, not just those in receipt of DSAs. HEPs are entirely responsible for ensuring the support they offer disabled students meets any legal requirements to which they are subject.Students who enter into dispute with their HEP over the support provided by their HEP as a recommended reasonable adjustment have access to the Exceptional Case Process, which provides interim funding to support DSAs-eligible students whilst the dispute is being resolved.

Students: Disability

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the support available for disabled students is included in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.

viscount younger of leckie: The Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) recognises and rewards high quality teaching in higher education. Its purpose is to give all students clear information about where teaching quality is best, and to hold higher education providers to account for the quality of their teaching, learning environment and student outcomes. The TEF recognises the needs of all students, including students with disabilities, for high quality teaching and outcomes. The TEF metrics used in the assessment process are benchmarked to take account of the entry qualifications and characteristics of students, and the subjects studied at each university or college. These benchmarks include disability. The TEF assessment is therefore based on what each college or university achieves for its particular students. The contextual information provided to assessors to help them interpret the metrics for a provider includes information about disabled students at that institution. Higher education providers, in the submissions that support their assessments, can also highlight aspects of their provision, which might include support for their students with specific needs. Assessors will consider the whole range of factors before arriving at a final TEF rating.

Higher Education: Technology

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of technology for recording and sharing higher education lectures and other teaching activities.

viscount younger of leckie: In 2017 the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) published a research report, commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which reviewed the levels of support for disabled students across the higher education (HE) sector in 2016/17 and the progress made by HE providers (HEPs) towards inclusive, social models of support. The report is available at: https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/resource/models-support-students-disabilities and is also attached. The research found that the majority of institutions used audio or video recording of at least some of their lectures. Most of those who did not currently use lecture capture planned to introduce it in the future. The Office for Students has commissioned follow-up research from IES, a report of which will be published in summer 2019. Furthermore, in January 2019, the department published an evaluation research report of the support provided to disabled students in higher education through Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) and the support provided by HEPs. This report showed that disabled students were aware and took advantage of support from their HEPs, including online course materials, the provision of lecture notes in advance and lecture capture, and specialist software and assistive technology. The DSAs evaluation research report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-disabled-students-allowances-dsas and is also attached.  



HL16387_PDF
(PDF Document, 2.05 MB)




HL16387_PDF
(PDF Document, 1.28 MB)

Overseas Students

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount that will be contributed to the UK economy by students from overseas between 2019–20 and 2024–25.

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many overseas students they estimate will attend UK universities between 2019–20 and 2024–25.

viscount younger of leckie: Almost 460,000 international students chose to study at a UK higher education institution (HEI) in 2017/18. We have made no estimate of the number of overseas students that will attend UK HEIs between 2019-20 and 2024-25, or their contribution to the UK economy. In the International Education Strategy, published in March 2019, the government set out its ambition to both increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year and to increase the total number of international students hosted by UK universities to 600,000 by 2030, an increase of over 30%. We fully recognise the important contribution that international students make to the UK’s higher education sector, both economically and culturally. They bring greater diversity to university and college campuses, an international dimension to the experience of all students, stimulate demand for courses, and add to the UK’s impressive research capacity. They are also an important source of income for our education sector. International students at UK HEIs contributed an estimated £11.9 billion to the UK economy in 2016 through tuition fees and living expenditure.

Breakfast Clubs

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by of Lord Agnew of Oulton on 13 June (HL16098 and HL16099), whether they will answer the question put about (1) when a decision will be made on the future funding of the National School Breakfast Programme, and (2) what is the current annual cost of the programme to the public purse.

lord agnew of oulton: Decisions about any funding beyond March 2020 will be taken as part of the upcoming Spending Review. Up to £26 million has been allocated to the National Schools Breakfast Programme over 2018-20.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords Chamber: Clocks and Watches

lord palmer: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the cost of the new clocks in the House of Lords Chamber.

lord mcfall of alcluith: The new clocks in the House of Lords Chamber were procured together with new clocks for Grand Committee. Together the new clocks for the Chamber and Grand Committee cost £23,709.60. This includes the cost of the bespoke design, software, hardware and installation. It is inclusive of VAT.The clocks are maintained by the same company that maintains the clocks in the House of Commons. Together the two Houses pay an annual maintenance fee of £3,596 per annum. The House of Lords pays 40% of this cost.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Social Rented Housing

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of ending the practice of converting homes for social rent into “affordable” rented housing, in order to tackle (1) affordability issues in the housing market, and (2) homelessness.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: A mix of different tenures is vital to meet the needs of a wide range of people, and allow the sector to build the right homes in the right places. Alongside affordable home ownership to help those struggling to purchase their first home, our expanded programme now offers two rental products. Affordable Rent was introduced to maximise taxpayers’ money. It allows us to build more homes for every pound of Government investment - so more people in housing need can have access to a good quality home at a sub-market rent. Social rent will meet the needs of struggling families and those most at risk of homelessness in areas of the country where affordability is most pressured.

Buildings: Insulation

lord campbell-savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government to list thetrade descriptions, names, and specifications of those forms of building external cladding material which should be removed for reasons of home security and safety in the case of buildings meeting minimum height requirements and at potential risk of fire.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: On the advice of the Independent Expert Advisory Panel the Department has published a number of advice notes for building owners or anyone responsible for, or advising on, the fire safety of external wall systems of residential buildings 18m or above in height. These are available (attached) at : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-building-safety-programme#advice-notes 



Advise Note 18
(PDF Document, 146.95 KB)




Spandrel Panel
(PDF Document, 134.37 KB)




Advice Note on ACM
(PDF Document, 331.14 KB)

Business Premises: Solar Power

earl cathcart: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for requiring all new industrial and commercial buildings to include extensive solar panel coverage on their roofs.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Building Regulations energy performance standards are deliberately couched in performance terms and do not prescribe the technologies, materials or fuels to be used, allowing builders the flexibility to innovate and select the most appropriate solutions for the circumstances. For example, many roofs are not suitable for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels because of building orientation, roof design, or over shading. We do, however, plan to consult on uplifting the energy efficiency standards of the building regulations in the coming months, including those for new non-domestic buildings.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to issue guidance for local areas to give clarity on the details of the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The government recognises the importance of reassuring local areas on the future of local growth funding and providing clarity on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Therefore, we will consult widely on the Fund.Decisions on the allocation and quantum of the Fund are due to be made following the Spending Review.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Chemicals: Regulation

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there has been any change in applicable standards for endocrine disrupting chemicals resulting from regulations made under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has made a clear commitment that the UK’s high level of environmental protection will be maintained outside the EU. We will ensure that the regulation of pesticides continues to be robust and fit for purpose, so as to protect people and the environment. This includes maintaining controls on endocrine disrupting chemicals. We have addressed a drafting error in an EU Exit Statutory Instrument to make it clear that these controls are maintained. A draft instrument has been submitted to Parliament for sifting.

Home Office

Madeleine McCann

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have provided to the Metropolitan Police Service for the purpose of the Operation Grange investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann since its launch in May 2011; what estimate they have made of the total cost of that operation to date; and how much has been spent on investigations into other missing children since May 2011.

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they will use to assess the request from the Metropolitan Police Service for further funding for Operation Grange until March 2020.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has awarded £11.75 million to cover the costs of Operation Grange up until March 2019. A request for further funding until the end of March 2020 has been received, the costs of which will be assessed against the Special Grant Award criteria. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-funding-special-grant-guidance/special-grant-guidance). A decision will be made in October.The Home Office has previously provided £1.1 million of Special Grant funding to South Yorkshire Police to meet the additional costs of the investigation into the disappearance of Ben Needham. We do not hold information on spending on other missing children investigations as these are funded locally by police forces.

Counter-terrorism

lord carlile of berriew: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to announcewho will be conducting the independent review of the Prevent counter-extremism programme; and what will be the review’s (1) terms of reference, and (2) timescale for reporting.

baroness williams of trafford: Work is underway to appoint the Independent Reviewer of the Prevent Strategy, define the Terms of Reference for the Review, and to recruit a secretariat to support this work.The aim is to inform the House of the arrangements for the Review, including the Reviewer and the Terms of Reference, by 12 August 2019, as required by the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. The final report, recommendations and the Government response are due by August 2020.

Asylum: LGBT People

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their introduction of a new asylum casework database will improve the capturing and recording of the details of LGBTQI+ people who (1) claim asylum, and(2)are held in detention; and if so, how.

baroness williams of trafford: The new Atlas case working system remains in development. It is therefore not possible to confirm at this time exactly what data it will record. Atlas is intended to improve how cases are recorded, managed and reported. This includes building on current reporting fields for LGBTQI+ people claiming asylum or being held in detention.

Surveillance: Unmanned Air Vehicles

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the use of drones on increasing the effectiveness of countering terrorism, piracy, kidnappings and other offences combatted by surveillance technologies.

baroness williams of trafford: Decisions to use drones and in which circumstances are operational matters for the Police and other law enforcement agencies.

Treasury

Occupational Pensions

baroness drake: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that independent governance committees (IGCs) monitor and provide effective oversight of the suitability of all the retail fund choices available to pension scheme members through the firm which an IGC oversees.

lord young of cookham: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced rules in 2015 to require contract-based pension providers to set up independent governance committees (IGCs) to address poor consumer outcomes. IGCs have a duty to scrutinise the value for money of the provider’s workplace personal pension schemes, taking into account transaction costs, raising concerns and making recommendations to the provider’s board as appropriate. IGCs have a duty to assess whether all the investment choices available, including default options, are suitable for the interests of consumers. In 2016, the FCA reviewed IGCs and found that they were “generally effective” in influencing and advancing cost reductions for members. The FCA has announced that it will undertake a further review of IGCs in 2019/20.